Written by: Dr. Sonya Alise McKinzie
In recent years, a troubling trend has emerged in American education—one that threatens to silence generations of voices and rewrite the narrative of a nation. Across several states, legislation has been passed to restrict or remove the teaching of Black history in public schools. These efforts, often framed as attempts to eliminate “divisive concepts,” have sparked outrage and mobilization within Black communities determined to protect their stories and ensure that future generations receive a truthful, inclusive education.
Since 2021, over 44 states have introduced bills aimed at limiting how race, racism, and historical injustices are taught, and at least 18 states have passed laws censoring curriculum content related to race and gender. States such as Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, and Utah have enacted laws that target curriculum elements like the 1619 Project, critical race theory, and even basic discussions of slavery and civil rights
In some cases, educators have been discouraged or outright banned from teaching about figures like Malcolm X, Angela Davis, or the Black Panther Party. Books by Black authors have been pulled from shelves, and lesson plans have been sanitized to avoid discomfort.
This erasure is not just about textbooks or lesson plans about identity, truth, and justice. When students are denied access to the full scope of American history, they lose the opportunity to understand the roots of systemic inequality, the resilience of Black communities, and the contributions that have shaped every facet of society. For Black students, the absence of their history in the classroom sends a damaging message: that their experiences, struggles, and triumphs are not worthy of recognition.
The consequences of this erasure are profound. It undermines the educational mission of fostering critical thinking and informed citizenship. It perpetuates ignorance and division. And it denies all students, regardless of race, the opportunity to engage with the full complexity of their nation’s past.
But the response has been powerful. Black parents, teachers, and advocates are organizing to resist these changes. They are creating alternative educational resources, hosting community events, and demanding accountability from school boards and legislators. Grassroots organizations are stepping in to fill the gaps, offering workshops, digital content, and supplemental materials that center Black voices and experiences.
In cities like Philadelphia, where Black history is being embraced rather than erased, educators are showing what’s possible when schools commit to truth and inclusion. The Center for K-12 Black History and Racial Literacy Education at the University at Buffalo is tracking these developments and supporting efforts to preserve and expand Black history instruction
Students themselves are also stepping up. In Delaware, young activists helped draft and advocate for a bill requiring schools to teach comprehensive Black history, including the African diaspora, the economic impact of slavery, and the contributions of Black Americans to literature, politics, and culture. Their courage and determination are a reminder that the fight for educational justice is not just about policy, it’s about people.
This movement is not just about preserving the past—it’s about shaping the future. It’s about ensuring that every child, regardless of race, has access to a truthful, inclusive education that empowers them to think critically and act compassionately. The fight for curriculum reform is a fight for dignity, representation, and the soul of education itself.
In the face of erasure, Black communities are standing firm. Their stories will be told. Their history will be taught. And their voices will continue to echo through the halls of every school that they dare to forget.
References:
Giles, M. (2024). Censored, erased, and whitewashed: Jim Crow education in the twenty-first century. Poverty & Race Research Action Council. Retrieved from https://www.prrac.org/censored-erased-and-whitewashed-jim-crow-education-in-the-twenty-first-century-january-april-2024-p-r-article/
LePage, B. (2021, September 3). These are the states that passed laws restricting the teaching of racial history. The 74. Retrieved from https://www.the74million.org/article/these-are-the-states-that-passed-laws-restricting-the-teaching-of-racial-history/
U.S. Congress. (2025). H.R.1359 – Black History Matters Act. Congress.gov. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1359/text
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